A North Korean submarine of unidentified class and number went missing off their coast in early 2016. Despite North Korea’s large-scale search and US tracking, the vessel could not be regained. The sub is rumored to have sunk, perhaps as an old boat, according to speculation.
The missing submarine reportedly was operational off the coast of North Korea when it lost contact. A US official, who did not want to be named, stated, “About week ago it went missing and the speculation is that it sank,” and continued, “The North Koreans have not made an attempt to indicate there is something wrong or that they require help or some type of assistance.” The US military and their South Korean allies monitored closely as the North Korean navy combed the ocean for the missing sub, under the assumption that it might have experienced catastrophic failure while exercising.
North Korea’s estimated fleet of some 70 submarines includes midget boats and ships with a capacity for 30 or 40 crew, most of which are antiquated diesel submarines with scant capability beyond coastal defence and minimal offensive capabilities.North Korea watcher Joe Bermudez noted that while the vessels are “reasonable quality,” they often use civilian materiel for military functions and maintain low standards of upkeep relative to East Asian fleets.
The regime of Kim Jong Un has gone out of its way to emphasize its submarine power as a point of concern, and in particular one directed against South Korea. In a chilling precedent, the sinking of the South Korean corvette Cheonan in 2010 and the death of 46 sailors was blamed on a torpedo from a North Korean midget submarine, illustrating the asymmetric threat posed by Pyongyang’s decrepit but potentially lethal fleet of submarines.
Recently, North Korea has openly showcased a new submarine named Hero Kim Kun Ok that is believed to be equipped with nuclear-tipped missiles. The growth in the sea war of North Korea, as demonstrated by the September 2023 unveiling of the “tactical nuclear submarine No. 841,” reflects an ongoing desire to advance their attacking power regardless of sanctions imposed by foreign countries and economic challenges.
Against this background, the United States and South Korea have reinforced their respective defenses, with the joint maneuvers being described as the largest ever. The latest KCNA threat of an “pre-emptive retaliatory strike at the enemy groups” through a “pre-emptive retaliatory strike at the enemy groups” taking part in them reflects North Korea’s venerable bellicose stance. Pyongyang declared it would counter the maneuvers with an “operation to liberate the whole of South Korea including Seoul” via an “ultra-precision blitzkrieg.”
